* One of the Massive Heeds - the Giantess.
* A Massive Heed called Barbara.
Historical,
mythical and living legends of Llangollen will be celebrated in a unique
art project as part of the town’s Fringe celebrations helmed by Glyndwr University
staff and students.
The
Massive Heedz project was initially conceived as a live-action spectacle by Ali
Roscoe, lecturer in fine art at Wrexham Glyndwr University, and Alec Shepley, dean of the faculty of arts, science and technology.
The project would
have taken part as part of the annual Llangollen Fringe celebrations, which
begin this today (Friday).
However,
as the coronavirus pandemic put events on hold across the country, a decision
was taken by the Fringe to adapt this year’s event to become a festival people
could take part in online – which saw some major changes to the Heedz project.
Chris
Stone, a member of the Fringe organising team, explained: “There was a big plan
for this year’s project where we would be developing Massive Heedz for people
to wear and there would have been a parade through the streets.
“However,
for obvious reasons, that has now had to go online – like much of the Fringe.”
The
change to the Fringe’s plans came as preparations were underway for its 24th
season – which would see, as ever, a mix of arts, music, theatre, comedy,
storytelling and much more.
Public
health restrictions meant that much of the original planned programme could not
continue in the usual fashion.
However,
as Chris added: “A lot of things are still going ahead - just in a different
way.
“For
instance, there has always been a storytelling aspect and people will
still be getting together and telling stories at three High and Mighty tall
tales events online – they don’t even have to climb to Dinas Bran like they have
done in the past!
“There’s
a comedy session produced by one of our local comedians, who does a lot with
the comedy club at the Town Hall, Silkie, and a fellow comedian called David
Eagle – that will be great.
“There
is a circus skills session with my daughter, who lives in Llanberis – she is
doing a short online session where people can take part, and get told
beforehand a few simple items they should be able to gather together online for
the session.
“There’s
a band for the day session, which brings together individuals who are not in
groups and get them to play as part of a wider band. Again, that’s being put
together online, and it’s going to be really good.
“Plus,
of course, there’s the Massive Heedz project.”
For
this project, participants are being invited to consider Legends of
Llangollen to be celebrated in art
Chris
added: “They could be historical legends of the town, or they could even be
living legends – someone in Llangollen right now who should be celebrated.
“People
then create a portrait of that person’s face or head. This could be a very
simple thing, or very detailed – it entirely depends on how the artist feels
and we don’t require people to be highly trained artists for this – everyone is
welcome and the main thing is for people to have fun!
“They
then send us through a full-body image of themselves somewhere interesting as
well as their portrait of their legend as a separate picture, and a short
paragraph explaining their choice. These are combined and we are going to
create an online Massive Heedz portrait gallery!”
Ali
Roscoe, lecturer in fine art at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “The plan for the portrait gallery is to bring
together the images sent in to create these legendary characters – however they
are legendary to the creators themselves - enlarging the ‘heedz’ of course.
“Next, with the help
of our fine art students, my fellow lecturer Paul Jones and artists’ collective
Datamosh, they will be transformed into an animation.
“This project is now
one of two parts - with the second part planned to take place next year
in what would have been the original intended brief, which will see us actually
make Massive Heedz for people.
“When that happens,
our students will collaborate and help to make the Massive Heads
alongside students from Ysgol Dinas Bran and their teacher, Ali McDonald.
“And hopefully, during
the Llangollen Fringe Festival 2021 the Massive Heedz will appear in a
celebratory opening parade!”
Anne
Hill, a BA fine art student at Wrexham Glyndwr University, is among those who
have been helping to bring the project to life.
She
added: “Having been involved with the Fringe
through Wrexham Glyndwr over the past two years, I was keen to continue my
links with my fellow artists in these projects.
“This year has been
different, but having adapted to using social media to share my degree show,
this feels like an extension of that concept and hopefully next year we will
get to show our Massive Heedz for real!
“Last year, as well as
helping the pupils at Ysgol Dinas Bran produce artwork for the Fringe, I was
storyteller, sharing the information about the Legend of St Collen. And so my
Massive Heed, Bras, is one of the colourful characters from
the legend.
“Some of us have been
creating physical examples to show what is possible for the future - although
we are now asking others to just design Heedz.”
Chris
added: “It has been good working with Glyndwr – both Ali and Alec have been
very helpful, and Ali brings everything together with a light touch.
“I
think it’s very good to have students from the school taking part – you have
the links between the school, the university and the things happening in
Llangollen town centre through the fringe.
“I
also like the range of students Glyndwr brings to project, of all ages – it
shows you can develop through life!
“By
working with Glyndwr, we are developing those links both with Wrexham and with
the various towns and cities the students at Glyndwr have come from – it all
helps to link Llangollen and our events to the wider world.”
* The
Llangollen Massive Heedz project can be found on Instagram at
llangollenmassiveheedz
To find out more about
studying Fine Art at Wrexham Glyndwr University, visit: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/FineArt/
To find out more about
Llangollen Fringe – including how to submit your own Massive Heed, the full
programme of activities, and ways in which you can join in, online, for free,
visit: https://llangollenfringe.co.uk/index.php/en/
